December 2, 1998 - A former giant of the exercise equipment industry passed from local control this week. NordicTrack, which sold millions of dollars-worth of cross country-ski machines since the mid-eighties, has fallen foul of changes in US exercise habits. Minnesota Public Radio Sports Commentator Jay Wiener has this analysis... Minnesota Public Radio Sports Commentator Jay Wiener is on leave from the Star Tribune Newspaper to write a book on the politics of sports stadiums. Sun 28-MAY 07:43:20 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
December 2, 1998 - For St. Paulites it's getting to be old hat, but Minneapolitans are just getting used to the idea of a new area code tentatively approved by state regulators. The Public Utilities Commission picked 9-5-2 as the new area code for Minneapolis, Richfield and the Fort Snelling area. The move comes a month before callers in St. Paul and other east Twin Cities area communities must begin using the 6-5-1 area code instead of 6-1-2.
December 2, 1998 - ONE OF MINNESOTA'S MOST DIVISIVE DISPUTES NOW RESTS WITH THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. THE 9 JUSTICES PEPPERED ATTORNEYS WITH QUESTIONS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TODAY ON WHETHER THE MILLE LACS BAND OF OJIBWE HAS RETAINED RIGHTS TO HUNT AND FISH OFF ITS RESERVATION FREE FROM STATE REGULATION. AT THE HEART OF THE DISPUTE IS WHETHER THE BAND HAS THE RIGHT TO SPEARFISH ON THE STATE'S PREMIER WALLEYE LAKE: LAKE MILLE LACS. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S ELIZABETH STAWICKI REPORTS... Sun 28-MAY 07:42:32 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
December 2, 1998 - The U-S Supreme Court hears arguments on a Minnesota treaty rights case this week (December 2nd) that could have wide-ranging implications for tribal rights throughout the country. The Court will decide whether the Mille Lacs (mill-LAKS') Band of Chippewa has retained rights to spearfish off its reservation free from State regulation. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: The Chippewa say they need to carry on their centuries-old practice of spearfishing to keep their culture alive. But that tradition has enraged sportsfishermen and resort owners. They say the chippewa are depleting the lakes of the highly prized game fish--walleye. Spearing is an efficient way to fish and can result in a catch of hundreds of walleye in a few hours. During the 1980's violence erupted over this conflict in Wisconsin; a
December 2, 1998 - There is a slight sense of irony this year at the Walker Art Center's annual screening of the British Television Advertising Awards in that one of the most successful ads was done for the very non-commericial BBC. Awards co-ordinator Peter Bigg will introduce the show tonight (Wed) as it opens a run lasting through December 20th. He told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr the BBC ad attempted to persuade people to pay their annual license fees by showing the many different kinds of music available through BBC television and radio. The fee is close to 150 dollars, and must be paid by anyone who watches TV. The commercial also tried to raise millions for childrens charities.... British Television Advertising Awards Co-ordinator Peter Bigg will introduce the first screening of this years Awards a
December 2, 1998 - Governor Arne Carlson has a little more than a month left in his term, and already tributes to his thirty years in public office are under way. The first took place in Minneapolis last night NARRATION: It wasn't a "retirement party"; it was a "salute" -- a salute featuring more than twelve hundred Carlson fans and kicked off by the University of Minnesota Marching Band. It was, for Governor Carlson, a chance to reflect on his term in office and wha
December 2, 1998 - Tensions between US and Canadian farmers are risning rise again, and may erupt this weekend. Plans are being laid to repeat -- and expand -- September's border blockade of Canadian agricultural goods to market in the US. But Canada is not backing down saying such protests will do nothing to resolve longstanding conflicts between the US and Canada. Yesterday in Washington, the Canadian minister of Agriculture told farm representatives the border delays, and indeed much of US farmers' antagonism toward Canada are based on misperceptions. From Washington, Emily Harris reports. TRXX 1: Canadian Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanklief says US farmer complaints of Canadian trade obstacles are BASED ON RUMOUR not facts -- and are being MADE loudly now due to worldwide low prices for
December 2, 1998 - If all goes as planned, the space shuttle Endeavour will lift off from the Kennedy Space Center in Flordia early tomorrow morning carrying a key component of the new International Space Station. Minnesota has some interesting connections to the first of what will be dozens of shuttle flights associated with construction of the space station. Native son Bob Cabana is commanding the shuttle mission, making his fourth trip to space. And Minnesota-based Honeywell is one of the top contractors that's helping to build the research facility. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
December 3, 1998 - MPR's Brent Wolfe has this Mainstreet report on the study of tundra swans. The Upper Mississippi River between Wabasha and La Crosse is a temporary home to as many as 15,000 tundra swans, as they stop off here each winter enroute from their breeding grounds along Alaska's north slope to their wintering grounds on the Chesapeake Bay.
December 3, 1998 - Governor Arne Carlson released the final budget forecast of his administration today, and the state's economic picture is rosy. It shows a surplus of one-and-a-half billion dollars for the bienium ending in June. Republicans, D-F-L'ers and Governor-elect Jesse Ventura all support giving some of the surplus back to taxpayers, but the debate is over when to return the money. It's a political minefield for Ventura who swept into office on the strength of promises to cut taxes. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... Governor Carlson was gleeful as he announced he's leaving the state in a much better financial condition than when he arrived in office. He says a combination of spending cuts, a healthy economy and the state's tobacco settlement have led to higher than expected revenues...